Written Answers Thursday 29 June 2006

Scottish Executive

Angling

Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures have been taken to support the recreational sea angling sector.

Patricia Ferguson: VisitScotland is represented on, and contributes funding to, the Angling Development Tourism Group, which has been instrumental in the development of the FishScotland website. VisitScotland also has a section on its own website dedicated to sea angling, along with two pages about the sport in its Fishing in Scotland brochure. In addition, VisitScotland contributes some funding to the Country Sports Tourism Group, which is looking at a number of projects to further develop angling of all kinds in Scotland.

Concessionary Travel

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it would cost to provide sufficient extra rail carriages to enable all First ScotRail services to be included, except sleeper services, if the free concessionary travel scheme for pensioners and disabled people were extended to rail travel.

Tavish Scott: Transport Scotland does not have this information.

  It should be noted that the impact of extending the concessionary travel scheme to include First ScotRail services would not be restricted to availability of carriages but could also impact on station platform lengths, station facilities, staffing levels, revenue collection procedures and potentially the national timetable.

  There are currently no plans to extend the concessionary travel scheme to include First ScotRail services.

Education

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many young people in the (a) West Dunbartonshire and (b) Argyll and Bute local authority area have received education maintenance allowances in each year since 2001.

Nicol Stephen: Education Maintenance Allowances (EMAs) were launched across Scotland in August 2004 for eligible 16-year-olds. The national roll out to all eligible 16 to 19-year-olds will be complete in 2007-08.

  West Dunbartonshire took part in the pilot phase of EMAs, and therefore information is available for each of the pilot years (2001-02 onwards). In pilot areas the allowance is paid to 16 to 19-year-olds. As Argyll and Bute did not participate in the pilot, information is only available from the first year of national roll-out (i.e. academic year 2004-05).

  The numbers of young people in receipt of Education Maintenance Allowances (EMAs) in (a) West Dunbartonshire and (b) Argyll and Bute for the period in question are as follows:

  

 Academic Year
 (a) West Dunbartonshire
 (b) Argyll and Bute


 2001-02 (pilot)
 450
 not in pilot


 2002-03 (pilot)
 550
 not in pilot


 2003-04 (pilot)
 525
 not in pilot


2004-05*(national roll-out starts)
 665
 330



  Note: *Figures for 2004-05 include young people claiming EMA at both school and college. Prior to this only school pupils were counted as information on college students was not available for the pilot phase.

Education

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional funding has been allocated for educational maintenance allowances in (a) West Dunbartonshire and (b) Argyll and Bute in each year since 2003.

Nicol Stephen: The following table shows details of the amount paid to both West Dunbartonshire Council and Argyll and Bute Council for the purposes of the education maintenance allowance (EMA) programme. Figures were calculated by financial year.

  National roll-out of the programme commenced in 2004. However, West Dunbartonshire was part of the pilot programme, awarding EMAs to eligible students prior to national roll-out.

  

 Local Education Authority
 Financial Year
 Total


 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06


 West Dunbartonshire
£666,726.00
£572,262.00
£618,995.00
£1,857,983.00


 Argyll and Bute
 N/A
£161,920.00
£341,835.00
£503,755.00



  Note: *No figures for 2003 relating to EMA payments for Argyll and Bute as national roll-out did not commence until 2004.

Education

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the Deputy First Minister and Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning’s letter to me of 8 June 2006 regarding job losses in Inverclyde, whether the aim to attract "over £300m of private investment, support over 2,500 new jobs and create new business, education and learning facilities" incorporates Inverclyde Council’s education PPP proposals.

Nicol Stephen: No. The investment plans for Inverclyde referred to in my previous correspondence with Mr McFee relate to proposals currently being developed by Riverside Inverclyde Urban Regeneration Company (URC). This includes early plans for the relocation of the James Watt College to the waterfront to provide new education and learning facilities for the community but not the investment proposed under Inverclyde Council’s schools PPP project.

Employment

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Deputy First Minister and Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning was made aware of the job losses recently announced by Lenovo UK.

Nicol Stephen: I was made aware of Lenovo’s intention to enter into a period of consultation with a view to reducing its workforce on 16 March 2006, which was the same day on which Lenovo informed its employees.

Employment

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the Deputy First Minister and Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning, or senior civil servants, have had with the management of Lenovo UK regarding job losses at its Greenock facility.

Nicol Stephen: Officials at Scottish Development International and Scottish Enterprise Renfrewshire met with senior representatives of Lenovo in Scotland and in the US, where the company is headquartered, immediately following the announcement. They are working to encourage the company to maintain significant presence and investment in Scotland. These discussions are on-going.

Employment

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to assist workers threatened with redundancy by Lenovo UK at its Greenock facility.

Nicol Stephen: Advice and support on retraining, upskilling and employment opportunities are being offered to affected workers using the partnerships that already exist between local enterprise companies, local authorities, Jobcentre Plus and Careers Scotland as part of the Executive’s Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) framework.

  The PACE team has delivered a number of on-site information sessions for Lenovo staff. These sessions were offered in partnership with an outplacement consultancy appointed by Lenovo to provide additional support to staff.

Employment

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many workers from EU accession states have been working in Scotland in each month since May 2004.

Mr Tom McCabe: This data is not collected by the Scottish Executive as immigration is a reserved issue.

  The information is available in the Accession Monitoring Report May 2004 – March 2006, an online report available from the Home Office’s Immigration and Nationality Directorate.

Energy Efficiency

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what energy efficiency measures each of departments has undertaken in each year since 1999.

Mr Tom McCabe: Given the distribution of staff across the Executive’s estate, it is not possible to breakdown the measures taken by department. The Executive publishes an annual report on the environmental performance of its estate which details, among other things, actions taken to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases linked to its energy use. The most recent report, published in December 2005, is available through the Executive’s internet site: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/12/16153024/30243 .

  The Executive has also built energy efficiency into its contract for the management and maintenance of its building operations.

  All new IT equipment supplied on the Executive estate since 2001 is Energy Star compliant.

  Staff awareness campaigns have also been undertaken to illustrate the impacts of energy consumption and the need for a reduction in the related greenhouse gas emissions.

Energy Efficiency

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all its departments, agencies and non-departmental public bodies bulk buy energy on a Scotland-wide basis and, if not, what efficiency schemes are in place to reduce the costs of energy purchase.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive bulk buys energy for some, but not all, of its agencies, non-departmental public bodies and associated departments. The current collaborative contract covers 35 parts of the public sector and almost 900 sites across Scotland.

  In terms of energy efficiency, I refer to the measures outlined in the answer to question S2W-26265 on 29 June 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Enterprise

Dr Jean Turner (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-20792 by Nicol Stephen on 1 December 2005, what the rate of growth of the call and contact centre industry was in (a) 2001-02, (b) 2002-03, (c) 2003-04 and (d) 2004-05.

Nicol Stephen: There are no official statistical sources which accurately record the number of call centres operating in Scotland over the period requested. This makes it very difficult to quantify growth in terms of either turnover or Gross Value Added. However, the number of people employed in call and contact centres in Scotland can be measured using the Labour Force Survey. This data is shown in the following table. It should be noted that the estimates in the tables are based on a sample survey, and as such, are subject to sampling error.

  

 Year
 People in Employment*


 2001
 45,000


 2002
 45,000


 2003
 49,000


 2004
 47,000


 2005
 44,000



  

 Year
 Absolute Growth in Employment*
 Percentage Growth in Employment*


 2001-02
 0
 0%


 2002-03
 4,000
 9%


 2003-04
 -2,000
 -4%


 2004-05
 -3,000
 -6%



  Note: *Includes both full-ime and part-time.

  Source: Labour Force Survey (spring quarters).

Enterprise

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to promote businesses run by women in the (a) Argyll and Bute and (b) West Dunbartonshire local authority area since 1999.

Nicol Stephen: Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise’s launched the Women’s Enterprise Strategy Sharpening the Focus on Women’s Enterprise in Scotland in 2005. The strategy highlights the services and activities currently provided by the enterprise agencies and aims to assist more women to start-up and grow their businesses.

  Specific details about activity undertaken in Argyll and Bute and in West Dunbartonshire are an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise, respectively.

Environment

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to implement the European Landscape Convention.

Rhona Brankin: The UK Government with Scottish Executive support has agreed to ratify the European Landscape Convention. The process of formal ratification will be concluded later this year.

  The convention serves to highlight the importance of landscape considerations in the widest sense. Our existing planning legislation and policy guidance already fulfil the requirements which it sets out.

Environment

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any concerns about the impact on the environment of building houses on public parkland and ground adjacent to it.

Rhona Brankin: Protecting and enhancing the quality of the environment, in both urban and rural areas, is a key objective of the planning system. National planning policy states that new housing development should not be located on open space which contributes to local community needs and enjoyment.

Ferry Services

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-26119 by Tavish Scott on 13 June 2006, whether it will explain and expand on the statement that "Public Service Obligations (PSOs) would not provide that certainty and security of service nor deliver on the Executive’s key policy objectives".

Tavish Scott: Article 4.2 of the Maritime Cabotage Regulation (Council Regulation (EEC) No 3577/92 of 7 December 1992 applying the principle of freedom to provide services to maritime transport within member states (maritime cabotage)) notes that, in imposing PSOs, "Member States shall be limited to requirements concerning ports to be served, regularity, continuity, frequency, capacity to provide the service, rates to be charged and manning of the vessel". Usually the PSO approach may not be sufficient to meet essential transport needs, in particular conditions concerning quality of service. No such limitations are applicable to Public Service Contracts (PSCs) which may therefore deal with a wider range of matters and thus go further to secure certainty and security of service. The Executive is currently tendering the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service on the basis of a PSC as that approach is consistent with the Executive’s key policy objectives.

Finance

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has about the reasons for any liability for VAT on infrastructure facilities and whether liability differs according to whether a project is Executive-led or led by other public bodies or agencies, including local authorities.

Mr Tom McCabe: VAT is payable on infrastructure facilities, and the tax has to be paid by the client to the contractor. This is the case whether the client is the Executive, a local authority or any other public body.

  Some bodies, for example local authorities or (most) commercial companies, are then able to reclaim this VAT. The Executive, in common with Whitehall departments, is not able to reclaim VAT on infrastructure costs which it has incurred directly.

Finance

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on whether liability for VAT on infrastructure facilities differs according to whether a project is funded through PFI or PPP rather than traditional financing.

Mr Tom McCabe: The principles of VAT apply irrespective of the method of financing.

Fiscal Autonomy

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many briefing papers it holds, including previous versions, on the possible impact of fiscal autonomy, financial independence or full fiscal power.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Executive does not keep a central count of the briefing papers held on any subject.

Flooding

Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the funding awarded to local authorities for flooding-related activity has been allocated for consultancy services, also broken down by local authority.

Rhona Brankin: Since 1 April 2004, grant to local authorities has been awarded at 80% of the estimated grant eligible expenditure to be incurred by local authorities on confirmed flood prevention schemes. Prior to 1 April 2004, the grant rate was 50%. Final invoices for each of the schemes funded since 2004 have yet to be submitted. Therefore, the estimated total grant eligible expenditure incurred on each scheme, the estimated grant eligible expenditure for consultancy services and estimated grant awarded since 1 April 2004 are tabulated as follows for each authority.

  

 Authority
 Scheme
 Estimated Total Grant
 Estimated Total Expenditure
 Estimated Expenditure for Consultancy Services


 Moray Council
 Lhanbryde
 1,917,318
 2,396,648 
 323,782


 City of Edinburgh Council
 Braid Burn
 4,647,550
 5,809,438
 1,727,739


 Perth and Kinross
 Weem
 525,797
 657,247
 55,373


 
 Earnbank
 260,159
 325,199.
 37,354


 
 Milnathort
 548,991
 686,239
 60,563


 City of Glasgow
 White Cart
 3,305,750
 4,132,188
 1,894,451

General Practitioners

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive how many doctors from outside Scotland are employed to provide weekend cover for out-of-hours GP services and what the cost is of such cover, including travel and accommodation, broken down by NHS board area and showing the countries where the doctors are normally domiciled.

Mr Andy Kerr: This information is not held centrally by the department.

  Under the National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) (Scotland) Regulations 2004, NHS boards have the responsibility to provide out-of-hours care to their local population. This information would therefore be held at NHS board level.

Local Government

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to allow local authorities to levy a "bed tax" on local accommodation providers, as is being considered by Sir Michael Lyons as part of the UK Government’s inquiry into local government funding.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Local Government Finance Review Committee has been asked to look at all aspects of local taxation, including alternative taxation systems. They are due to publish their final report later this year and we will want to give their findings full consideration before making any decisions on local taxation issues.

Marine Environment

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-26369 by Rhona Brankin on 8 June 2006, whether Forth Ports plc, as competent authority, is required to consult on a revised Environmental Impact Assessment of ship-to-ship transfer proposals in the Firth of Forth and, if so, with whom.

Tavish Scott: It is for Forth Ports to determine what their responsibilities are. We would expect them to consult on this.

Ministerial Cars

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the fuel costs of the ministerial car fleet were in each of the last five years.

Mr Tom McCabe: Expenditure on fuel used by the Government Car Service (Scotland) (GCS) in each of the last five years is shown in the following table:

  

 Year1
 Fuel Costs (£)


 E2001-02
 39,026


 2002-03
 42,131


 2003-04
 47,178


 2004-05
 47,298


 2005-06
 59,3462



  Notes:

  1. Each year shown runs from 1 April to 31 March.

  2. Increase largely caused by a 20% increase in the cost of liquid petroleum gas.

Ministerial Cars

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total mileage of the ministerial car fleet was in each of the last five years, broken down into cars using petrol, diesel and liquid petroleum gas.

Mr Tom McCabe: Comprehensive information is only available for 2005-2006 as follows:

  

 Diesel2
 Unleaded Petrol/ Liquid Petroleum Gas1


 9,462miles
 418,615miles



  Note:

  1. As all GCS’ saloons are currently dual fuel we cannot distinguish between miles travelled using unleaded petrol or liquid petroleum gas (LPG).

  2. These miles were covered by the only (people carrier) diesel vehicle in the Scottish Executive GCS’ fleet.

NHS Facilities

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what NHS facilities have been closed in each year since 1999, broken down by (a) NHS board, (b) community health partnership and (c) reason for closure.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Information is not held centrally in the format required. I will write to the member once more information is available and place a copy of my answer in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Nuclear Power

Dave Petrie (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for the regeneration of Caithness and Sutherland, in light of any loss of jobs as a result of the decommissioning of Dounreay nuclear power station.

Nicol Stephen: The Dounreay decommissioning process offers significant opportunities for innovation and employment. Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the local enterprise company and other partners are working together to make the very most of these. It is also important to help to diversify the Caithness and Sutherland economy and provide a strong basis for long term sustainable growth.

Pensions

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made towards identifying a solution to removing the Rule of 85.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Rule of 85 has to be removed from the Local Government Pension Scheme by 1 October 2006 in order to comply with EC Directive 2000/78/EC. Today I am commencing a consultation exercise on removing the Rule and implementing transitional protections for existing scheme members. The consultation documents are available on the Scottish Public Pensions Agency website on the Pensions Reform and Taxation Page and can be accessed using the following link : http://www.sppa.gov.uk/pension_reform/PRLGPSConsultations.htm .

  Following extensive discussions with representatives of the local government trades unions and COSLA, the Scottish Executive is now consulting on the terms of the protection to be provided for existing scheme members when the rule is removed. Full transitional protection to 2020 will be provided to existing members who decide to retire before age 65 if they have attained age 60 and would have satisfied the rule by that date.

  The consultation exercise, which also covers tax changes resulting from the Finance Act 2004, will run until 31 July 2006. This timetable will allow the regulations to be made and come into force on 1 October 2006.

  We will also continue discussions with trades unions and COSLA, and aim to consult widely later this year, on costed, realistic options for a new Local Government Pension Scheme specifically tailored for Scotland, with the objective of improving the benefits of those workers who retire on the lowest benefits, and having modernised arrangements in place for April 2008.

People with Disabilities

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that its guidance on the use of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy system for direct payment accounting for disabled people is being recognised and implemented by local councils.

Lewis Macdonald: Our guidance highlights the CIPFA system of direct payment accounting, to secure consistent practice across Scotland. We will update that guidance later this year.

Public Sector Staff

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding current and future job losses in Scotland resulting from its efficiency review.

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding any impact on services in Scotland arising from current and future job losses resulting from its efficiency review.

Mr Tom McCabe: Two UK-wide Governmental networks are in place to monitor and discuss this issue.

  Each network meets monthly and the Executive is represented by officials at those meetings.

Rail Network

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive why the procurement of the necessary electric rolling stock does not form part of the business case for the Airdrie to Bathgate rail link project when that was the requirement in respect of the Larkhall to Milngavie project and the Glasgow Airport Rail Link.

Tavish Scott: The cost of leasing the necessary rolling stock has, and will continue to form part of the business case for the Airdrie to Bathgate rail link project.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Rail Network

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will confirm that services between Helensburgh and Glasgow will not be extended along the Airdrie to Bathgate rail line.

Tavish Scott: Network Rail, the project promoters, are developing the Airdrie to Bathgate project on the understanding that services will run between Edinburgh and a point, or points, west of Glasgow. The services are planned to be in operation at the end of 2010, and it is important that the final decision on exactly what is to be provided is made nearer that time. This will enable the services planned to take into account the best fit with other services that will be running then. Extending the Helensburgh to Airdrie service is part of the option that was identified by the Central Scotland Corridor Study in 2002, but this will be reviewed as part of this final decision.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Rail Network

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which measure of inflation will be applied to determine the value of the Executive’s contribution to the Waverley line over the lifetime of the project.

Tavish Scott: Transport Scotland has developed and agreed an inflation methodology which shall be applied to the Executive’s contribution to the Waverley line project.

  The methodology takes account of the fact that prices for certain specialist aspects of railway works may often change at a different rate to that for other general areas of construction. Therefore, indices will be kept under review to ensure they most accurately reflect project and rail cost market trends.

Recycling

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage more local recycling groups.

Ross Finnie: We have a grant scheme, called INCREASE, for the community recycling sector and also fund the Community Recycling Network for Scotland to develop the sector. In addition, we have provided a number of Strategic Waste Fund awards to local authorities to support community recycling.

Renewable Energy

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost has been of each unit installed under the Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative, also broken down for each of the technologies supported.

The Executive have supplied the following corrected answer:

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative funds both householder and community projects. The average cost per unit installed under the Householder stream is £5,649 and under the community stream is £77,515. However, given the significant variation in scale between projects funded under the community stream, average figures are not meaningful so we have instead provided the project cost ranges.

  

 Technology
 Householder Stream – 
Average Cost Per Unit
 Community Stream – 
Cost Ranges


 Solar
£3,289
£1,764 - £132,000


 Wind
£16,610
£8,625 - £45,514


 Hydro
£10,876
£10,108 - £35,050


 Ground Source Heat Pump
£11,039
£2,200 - £177,628


 Biomass
£8,742
£9,131- £201,730


 Biofuels
 n/a
£44,460


 District Heating
£2,975
£27,500 - £66,629


 Combined Technologies
 n/a
£3,280 - £133,619

Renewable Energy

Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in developing the academic and research expertise in renewable and clean energy technologies.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is currently considering research and development (R&D) issues for the renewable energy sector through the Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland. A task group with representatives from the Executive, industry and academia has been established to scope the existing R&D capability in Scotland along with the future R&D requirements of the renewables industry in Scotland.

  We have already contributed over £3 million to establish world leading research and testing facilities at the European Marine Energy Centre, allowing performance research to be undertaken by marine technology developers.

  ITI Energy has also committed up to £1.5 million to create an innovative low-cost hydrogen handling material that has the potential to store and release hydrogen at room temperature. This clean energy project is a collaboration between a French company who have relocated to Scotland, and several Scottish universities.

  Since April 2003, the Executive’s SMART, SPUR and SCORE research and development support schemes have funded 11 projects offering almost £640,000 to businesses to help them develop renewable and clean energy technologies.

Research Councils

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the current funding rules in respect of research councils allow a level playing field for scientists seeking public sector finance for research in Scottish agricultural and biological research institutes (SABRIs) and the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC).

Rhona Brankin: The Research Councils are funded by the Office of Science and Innovation which forms part of Department of Trade and Industry. Funding of the Research Councils is a reserved matter. The Scottish Executive has no responsibility for any of the Research Councils. Further information on them can be found at www.ost.gov.uk .

Roads

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in light of the reported views of the Minister for Transport in The Sunday Times on 11 June 2006 about the possibility of the Executive introducing priority lanes on the A80 for vehicles with more than one occupant, it has made a final decision on the proposed online upgrade of the road and, if so, whether this should have been announced before schemes such as the possible priority lanes were suggested through the press.

Tavish Scott: A final decision on the proposed online upgrade of the A80 has not been made. The report of the public local inquiry is being given careful consideration by Scottish ministers and it is anticipated that a decision will be issued soon.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Roads

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the previously published estimates of the costs of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route took account of any VAT liability.

Tavish Scott: No.

Roads

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the previously published estimates of the costs of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route attributed to Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council took account of any VAT liability.

Tavish Scott: No.

Roads

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcome was of its recent meeting with Aberdeen City Council regarding the allocation of costs to the council associated with the revised proposals for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and whether those discussions included consideration of the potential liability for VAT.

Tavish Scott: The meeting with Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire councils discussed proposals for the funding of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and the Expressway to Stonehaven. The proposed funding arrangements are to be discussed at full meetings of both councils at the end of June. Liability for VAT was not discussed however separate discussions have been held between officials from Transport Scotland, Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire councils.

Scottish Enterprise

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-22919 and S2W-23443 by Nicol Stephen on 22 February and 6 April 2006, what consultation will take place with MSPs who are not members of the appropriate committee to ensure that Scottish Enterprise is aware of their views on the impact at local level of the proposals for structural change.

Nicol Stephen: A number of MSPs requested meetings and discussions with me to discuss Scottish Enterprise’s restructuring proposals. I conveyed the views expressed to Scottish Enterprise, took those views into account when making my statement on Scottish Enterprise on 30 March and continue to take these into account.

  MSPs can make views direct to Scottish Enterprise or through ministers.

Scottish Executive Expenditure

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the energy costs of each of its departments were in each of the last five years.

Mr Tom McCabe: The fuel costs incurred by the Scottish Office from 1 April 1999 to 1 July 1999 and for the Scottish Executive from 1 July 1999 to 31 March 2005 are as follows:

  

 Year
 Electricity
 Gas
 Liquid Fuel
 Total all Fuel


 1999-2000 
£552,961
£159,460
£65,240
£777,661


 2000-01
£566,760
£127,478
£77,249
£771,487


 2001-02
£502,573
£120,626
£98,953
£722,152


 2002-03
£592,545
£131,963
£18,618
£743,126


 2003-04
£562,946
£156,656
£25,346
£744,948


 2004-05
£529,336
£261,209
£54,652
£845,197


 2005-06
£915,205
£243,146
£41,108
£1,199,459



  It is not possible to break down these energy costs between departments as most fuel bills are rendered by reference to individual buildings and most buildings contain staff from several departments.

Scottish Further Education Funding Council

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much the Scottish Further Education Funding Council allocated to Clydebank College in each year since 1997.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Further Education Funding Council, a predecessor of the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council, took over the responsibility of allocating funds to further education colleges from the Scottish Office Education and Industry Department on 1 July 1999. The information for Clydebank College requested is as follows:

  

 Year
Capital (£)
Revenue* (£)


 1997-98
 -
 6,137,900


 1998-99
 -
 6,257,000


 1999-2000
 153,850
 6,785,700


 2000-01
 608,041
 7,453,480


 2001-02
 885,273
 11,089,224


 2002-03
 2,059,243
 8,761,778


 2003-04
 225,775
 8,521,056


 2004-05
 1,766,887
 8,754,073



  Note: *Recurrent grant-in-aid.

Sexual Offences

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what actions it will take to ensure the protection of the public in Dumfriesshire following the decision of local court solicitors to refuse to handle sexual offence cases from 1 August 2006.

Hugh Henry: We have made very clear that there is no justifiable reason for legal professionals to put public safety at risk. An interim offer remains on the table to increase the fees for solicitors in solemn work. We plan to have further positive discussions with the Law Society of Scotland with a view to ensuring that the action that has been threatened by a number of Bar Associations across Scotland does not take place.

Social Work

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff at the Social Work Services Inspectorate were disciplined following allegations of staff misuse of resources in 2004-05.

Mr Tom McCabe: There were no staff directly employed by the Scottish Executive at the Social Work Inspectorate disciplined following allegations of staff misuse of resources in 2004-05.

  There was, however, a temporary worker supplied by an employment agency who was found to be unsuitable and removed from her temporary post. Subsequent to her removal some financial irregularities were identified and these were referred to the police.

Student Finance

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of recipients of access bursaries have been domiciled in the (a) Argyll and Bute Council area, (b) West Dunbartonshire Council area and (c) Dumbarton parliamentary constituency since the bursaries were introduced.

Nicol Stephen: I understand that you are referring to the "young students’ bursary". The following table highlights the percentage of young students’ bursary (YSB) recipients who were domiciled in the (a) Argyll and Bute Council area, (b) West Dunbartonshire Council area and (c) Dumbarton parliamentary constituency since academic year 2001-02 (when the bursaries were introduced):

  

 Academic Year
 All Students Receiving Young Students’ Bursary (YSB)
 Percentage Of Recipients Of YSB From Area


 Total
 (a) Argyll and Bute Council
 (b) West Dunbartonshire Council
 (c) Dumbarton parliamentary constituency


 2001-02
 13,233
 1.9%
 2.0%
 1.5%


 2002-03
 21,870
 1.9%
 2.1%
 1.7%


 2003-04
 27,855
 1.8%
 2.2%
 1.7%


 2004-05
 31,500
 1.7%
 1.9%
 1.5%



  Source: Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS), Scottish Executive.

Student Finance

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time students from the (a) Argyll and Bute and (b) West Dunbartonshire local authority area have received bursaries to support them at university since the bursaries were introduced.

Nicol Stephen: The following table highlights the number of full-time students domiciled in the (a) Argyll and Bute local authority area and (b) West Dunbartonshire local authority area who received bursaries to support them at university since 1997-98 (the earliest year for which data is held).

  

 Academic Year
 All Full-Time University Students Receiving a Bursary
 Number of Full-Time University Students Receiving a Bursary by Local Authority Area


 Total
 (a) Argyll and Bute Local Authority
 (B) West Dunbartonshire Local Authority


 1997-98
 59,595
 1,005
 860


 1998-99
 59,120
 1,005
 900


 1999-00
 43,905
 675
 770


 2000-01
 36,465
 540
 700


 2001-02
 36,875
 565
 750


 2002-03
 38,850
 585
 765


 2003-04
 41,345
 650
 755


 2004-05
 42,000
 630
 745



  Source: Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS), Scottish Executive.

  In the table, bursary support refers to a student receiving support through any of the following financial awards administered by SAAS: Standard Maintenance Allowance, Travel Expenses, Young Students Bursary, Young Students Outside Scotland Bursary, Mature Students Grant, Dependants Grant, Lone Parents Grant, Lone Parents Childcare Grant, School Meals Grant, Disabled Students Allowance and Two Homes Grant.

  It should be noted that some of the awards were introduced at different times and may not have been available for the entire period in question. More information on this can be found in the SAAS publication Student Awards In Scotland 2004-05, a link to which is given below: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/12/1395648/56507.

Transport

Chris Ballance (South of Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects that the Atkins Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance analysis of a bypass for Maybole will be published and why it has not yet been published, given the statement by the Minister for Transport and Telecommunications in a letter dated 9 March 2006 that Part One of the analysis would be published "in the next few weeks".

Tavish Scott: The STAG transport study for Maybole has been published today 29 June 2006. The delay has been due to further consideration of the report by Transport Scotland and further discussions with their consultants.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Transport

Dr Jean Turner (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for future transport infrastructure, in light of the reducing oil supply.

Tavish Scott: The National Transport Strategy (NTS) consultation paper poses questions about a range of issues including how we might build a sustainable transport system for Scotland. I look forward to considering views on the paper after the closing date for comments on 13 July 2006.

Transport

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Independent): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how many people resident in Scotland are qualified to drive, broken down by gender.

Tavish Scott: The numbers of men and women who are qualified to drive are not available. However, estimates of the percentages of men and women, aged 17 and over, who live in private households in Scotland and hold a full driving licence are published each year - for example, in table 1.16 of the 2005 edition of Scottish Transport Statistics . Copies are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 37306).

Travellers

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is meeting the needs of gypsy traveller communities, particularly in relation to the provision of caravan sites.

Johann Lamont: Scottish Planning Policy three states that planning authorities should identify suitable locations for Gypsies/Travellers sites where need is identified in the local housing strategy.

  In addition, we have made £3 million funding available to cover the three year period from financial year 2005-06 to year 2007-08, to local authorities to create or improve sites for Gypsies/Travellers.